Shuttle-actuating mechanism for looms



J. E. GROSVENOR ET AL SHUTTLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Nov. 15, 1927.

FiIed Dec. 2, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1.

WWW w Nov. 15, 1927.

J. E. GROSVENOR ET AL SHUTTLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Filed Dec. 2. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 1mm).

l/VVE/VTO/M Jlf Jamar Nov. 15, 1927. 1 1,648,897

4 J. E. GROSVENOR ET AL I SHUTTLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 2. 1925 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTOR/VE X1 Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,648,897 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ERNEST GROSV ENOR, OF HAGLEY, AND WILLIAM THOMAS PICKING, OF KIDDER- MINSTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO WOODWARD GRQSVENOR AND COMPANY LIM- ITED, OF WORCESTER CROSS, KIDDERMINSTER,-IENGLAND.

SHUTTLE-ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed December 2, 1925, Serial No.

Our invention relates to the type or class of picking or shuttle actuating mechanism for looms wherein by the recoil of a spring the shuttle is thrown from side to side of the loom in manner well known, thus securing the advantage of applying the same propelling force to the shuttle whether the loom is running at an increased or decreased speed.

Our present invention consists in an improved construction and arrangement of the mechanism actuated by a spring whereby we can control same so that the recoil of said spring on being released will throw or pick two or more shuttles in succession from either side of. the loom as may be desired and not necessarily from each side alternately as is the case in what is known as plain weaving, while the mechanism we employ enables the adjustment of the strength of the spring. the time of action of said spring and the efficient control of the cam actuating mechanism which operates said spring.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrative of our invention Fig. 1 is a sectional front elevation of sufficient of a loom to show the application of our improved devices. I

Fig. 2 is an end view showing the two shafts of the loom and the cams mounted thereon for operating the lever which effects the picking operations. I

Figs. 3 and 4 are drawings in detail of levers arranged to operate as hereinafter described.

Fig. 5 illustrates an alternative form of spring to the one that is shown by Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan of certain of the parts shown by Fig. 1.

A and A indicate the end frames of the loom and B an additionalend frame for supporting parts well known. C, C illustrates the two picking sticks and D and E the crank shaft and low shaft of the loom respectively. I

We hereinafter describe our invention as applied to looms for weaving carpets and like fabrics, since from such a description it will readily be understood how to apply same to other classes of looms. V

In carrying our invention into effect we make use of a cam 2 mounted upon the low shaft E of the loom and at the right hand 72,698, and in Great Britain December 9, 1924.

side of said loom as is shownby Fig. 2. Said cam 2 has the desired number of radiating or elevating surfaces to meet the requirements as to the speed at which it is revolving relatively to the crank shaft D to carry out the desired picking actions at each revolution of said crank shaft 1) as is well known, and as in this loom the shaft E revolves once for every three revolutions of the crank shaft 1) the cam 2 has three such elevating portions a, a a.

The cam 2 is arranged to operate a lever 3 which is pivoted upon a shaft 72 mounted upon the end frames A and B, and the lever 3 is connected by an adjusting connecting rod or link4 to a two-armed lever 5 pivoted at 0 upon a bracket 6 fixed between end frames A and B. The other arm of the two-armed lever 5 is connected by a rod 7 to the arm at of a quadrant 8 carrying a laterally projecting portion 7' which extends into the path of a lever 9 pivoted upon a shaft 10 upon which also is pivoted the quadrant. 8'. The lever 9 has a lateral projection 9 extending from it for engagement with a retaining hook 11 pivoted at 9 upon a bracket fixed to the end frame A and hav-v ing a downwardly extending tail piece 11 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The lever 9 has its lower end connected by a rod 12 to a centrally situated lever 13 pivoted at 13* upon a bracket 14 fixed to a cross rail 15 of the loom. This lever 13 is connected by rod 16 to -a lever 17 which is pivoted on a shaft 18 carried by a bracket 19 fixed to the end frame A The lever 13 is made use of in order to support the connecting rods 12 and 16 instead of having one connecting rod reaching from the lever 9 to the lever 17 in order to avoid excessive vibration which would be set up under the actions of the two levers 9 and 17 during their respective movements. To the upper end of the lever 17 is pivoted a connecting rod 20 which is connected through a spring 21 and a flexible strap 22 to the lever 9.

The connection of the flexible strap 22 to the lever 9 is effected by lixing the end of said strap 22 to the hub of a lever 23 pivoted thereon and this lever 23 is adjusted in position upon the lever 9 by the adjusting eyebolt 72. so that it may act as a buffer for said lever 9 as is hereinafter. explained.

Upon the shaft 10 is also mounted an arm 24: which has its outer end at 2 1; coupled by a strap or other suitable connection 25 to the picking stick C while at the other side of the loom and on the shaft 18 is mounted another similar-lever 240 which is coupled by a strap 2410 to the picking stick C on that side of the loom.

These levers 24: and 2 10 have notches w and co formed in the quadrant parts which extend from their hubs as is shown by Figs. 1 and 3, and these notches w, w are for engagement with the pawls or catches 26 and 26 respectively, which are pivoted upon the levers 9 and 17.

The pawls 26 and 26 have portions 27 and 27 which overhang projections s, s from levers 28 and 28 whiclrare pivoted upon bearings 29 and 29 so that as said levers 28 and 28 are raised and lowered (as is hereinafter described) the pawls or catches 26 and 26 will be moved into or from the notches w, w in the levers 24c and 240 respectively.

The movements or positions of the catches 26 and 26 are controlled by the levers 27 and 2 7 above described as these latter are actuated by connecting rods 30 and 30 that are respectively connected to the levers 31 and 31. The lever 31 is further connected by the connecting rod 32 to a lever 32 pivoted upon a shaft 72, while the lever 31 is pivoted upon a stud 7L The lever 31 has its motions controlled by the lever 33 which is connected by a rod 3l to a lever 35 that is pivoted at It to any suitable support fixed upon the framework of the loom. The lever 31 is operated by a lever 33 to which it is connected and this lever 33 is connected by a rod 3 1 to a lever 35. Levers 35 and 35 are operated by cams or tappets 36 and 36 to control the catches 26 and 26 to effect the operations of the picking sticks C, C as is hereinafter described.

During the actions of the loom each revolution of the low shaft E raises the lever 3 three times and at each such movement causes the upper ends of the levers 9 and, 17 to move away from each other so that on each occasion the projection 9 on the lever 9, will be engaged with by the holding catch 11 and the spring 21 thereby put into and held in a state of tension. Howevem as the loom continues in motion so soon as the cam 10 (which is fixed upon the crank shaft D of the loom) is moved to operate or actuate the lever 3 and force same in a downward direction, the motion of said lever 3 will move the lever 5 in the opposite direction to that in which it is moved when the lever 3 rises, and therefore said lever 5 will actuate the lever 8 causing the adjusting screw 8 (upon said lever 8) to strike the lower arm- 11 of the retaining hook 11 in order to movesame so that its hook will liberate the lever 9 to permit the recoil of thespring 21 to immediately move the upper ends of the levers 9 and 17 towards each other. This movement is due to the connecting rods 12, 16 and lever 13 coupling the levers 9 and 17 together in the manner shown. lever 9 thus moves it will cause the buffer lever 23 to press upon the strap 22 so that the shock on the levers 9 and 17 is counteracted by the resilient actions of the spring 21 and its connections.

g It may be here observed that the release of the catch 11 as above described only effects the releasing of the spring 21 so that the levers 9 and 17 may be thereby operated but unless one or other of the catches 26 or 26 is allowed to engage with its notch w or 10 upon the quadrant part of its respective lever 24 or 2&0 no motion is transmitted to the picker stick. On the other hand as the catches 26 and 26 are governed by the actions of the cams or tappets 36 and 36 so will said catches be placed into engagement with their respective notches 10,40 to couple the levers 24 and 240 to the levers 9' and 17 in order thereby to transmit motion to the picking sticks C and C in accordance with the actions of the said cams 36 and 36" as will be understood.

The adjusting screw 8 is employed for releasing the catch 11 from holding the lever 9 as above described while bufl'er devices at 37 and 37 are employed for checking the actions of the levers 9 and 17.

The normal positions of the levers 2-1 and 2 10 are secured by the leather covered pro.- jections 24 and 2 1 resting upon the end. frames A as is shown by Fig. 1.

In cases where it is desirable to employ open spiral springs instead of the closed spiral springs 21 shown by Fig. 1, we make use of one or two spiral springs of the construction shown by Fig. 5 in which two folded rods 38 and 38 are made to pass through said open spiral spring 21 in order that their hooked ends may engage with the outer ends of said spring so that when the two rods 38 and 38 are acted upon by the levers 9 and 17 and the connections from same said spring 21 is put into a state of compression.

Under certain conditionsit may be desirable that the picking stick C should be free to oscillate about a centre other than the cen tre of oscillation of the slayboard, such for example, as when applied to looms having double laysworols G and H for supporting the slayboard (which in consequence of said support is pivoted so that its position relatively to said layswords alters). for these reasons we now form the bearing 62 which is fixed upon the shaft 63 about which the slayboard oscillates so that said bearing 62 may have pivoted. thereon at m a stud 34 upon which the bracket 65 to which the lower end of the picking stick 0 is fixed) may oscillate,

When the thus as said bracket 65 is free to oscillate upon said stud 64, said stud is also free to oscillate upon the "supporting rim m by which arrangement greater freedom is permitted to the picking stick C and therefore this latter is found to perform its functions more efficiently.

The retracting of the picking stick 0 is effected by the spring actuated retracting strap 66in well known manner.

Such being the nature and object of our said invention what we claim is 1. In shuttle actuating mechanism for looms, a spring, connections between said levers and spring, two levers, connecting rods coupling the two levers together, shafts supporting said levers, a second lever on each of said shafts adjoining each of said spring actuated levers, pawls or catches on the first said levers adapted to engage with notches on the second said latter or adjoining levers, cam actuated means for moving the spring actuated levers to put said spring into a state of tension, retaining devices for holding said levers while the spring is in said state of tension, means for releasing said retaining devices, two picking sticks, coupling devices for connecting the second said leversto the two picking sticks, connecting devices whereby the engaging pawlson the spring actuated levers may be moved to engage notches in the adjoining levers and pattern surface mechanism for controlling said connecting devices.

2. In shuttle actuating mechanism for looms, a spring, twolevers, connections between said levers and spring, connecting rods coupling the two levers, shafts supporting said levers, a second lever on each of said shafts adjoining said spring actuated levers, pawls or catches pivoted upon the first said levers and arranged to engage with notches on the said adjoining levers, a third lever mounted upon one of the shafts, projections from the last said lever engaging with the spring actuated lever, a fourth lever, connections coupling said third and fourth levers, a cam on one of the loom shafts adapted to actuate said fourth-lever, a hook for retaining the spring actuated levers when the spring is put into a state of tension, means whereby the lever carrying the projection for operating the spring actuated lever may on its return operate the retaining hook for releasing the spring actuated levers, two picking sticks, coupling devices for connecting the second said levers to the two picking sticks, connecting devices whereby the engaging pawls on the spring actuated levers may be moved to engage notches in the adjoining levers, and pattern surface mechanism for controlling said connecting devices.

3. In shuttle actuating mechanism for looms, a spring, two levers, connections between said levers and spring, connecting rods coupling the two levers together, shafts supporting said levers, a. second lever on each of said shafts adjoining each of said spring actuated levers, pawls or catches pivoted upon the first said levers andarranged to engage with notches on the said second or adjoining levers, two picking sticks, coupling devices connecting the said second or adjoining levers to the two picking sticks, supporting levers mounted'upon bearings adjoining the spring actuated levers, projections from said supporting levers, catches pivotedupon said spring actuated levers and adapted to engage said projections, rod and lever connections for operating th-e saidsupporting levers, and pattern surface mechanism for controlling said connecting devices.

4. In shuttle actuating mechanism for looms, a spring, two levers, connections between said levers and spring, bufier devices for said levers, connecting rods coupling the two levers together, shafts supporting said levers, a second lever on each of said shafts adjoining each of said spring actuated levers, pawls or catches pivoted upon the first said levers and arranged to engage with notches on the said second or adjoining levers, cam actuated lever devices for moving the spring actuated levers to put said spring into a state of tension, retaining devices for holding the levers while the spring is in said state of tension, means for releasing said retaining devices, two picking sticks, coupling devices connecting the said adjoining levers to the two picking sticks, connecting deviceswhereby the engaging pawls on the spring actuated levers may be moved to engage notches in the adjoining levers, and pattern surface mechanism for controlling said connecting devices.

5. In shuttle actuating mechanism for looms, a spring, two levers, means connecting said levers to the spring, connecting rods coupling the two levers together, shafts supporting said levers, a second lever on each of said shafts adjoining each of said spring actuated levers, pawls or catches pivoted upon the first said levers and arranged to engage with notches on the said second or adjoining levers, cam actuated lever devices for moving the spring actuated levers to put said spring into a state of tension, retaining devices for holding the levers while the spring is in said state of tension, means for releasing said retaining devices, two

picking sticks, coupling devices connecting the said adjoining levers to the two picking sticks, brackets fixed to the lower ends of said sticks, pivotal studs upon which said brackets are arranged to swivel, bearings for said studs allowing them to oscillate in manner described, pickers carried by said picking sticks, connecting devices whereby the engaging pawls on the spring actuated levers may be moved to engage notches in face mechanism for controlling said connecting devices.

6. In shuttle actuating mechanism for loom, a spring, two levers, means connecting said levers to the spring, connecting rods coupling the two levers together, shafts supporting said levers, a second lever on each of said shaft-s adjoining each of said spring actuated vlevers, pawls or catches pivoted upon the first said levers and arranged to engage with notches in the said second or adjoining levers, cam actuated lever devices for moving the spring actuated levers to put the spring into a state of tension, re-

picking sticks, coupling devices for connecting the said adjoining levers to the two picking sticks, pickers carried by said picking sticks, connecting devices whereby the engaging pawls on the spring actuated levers may be moved to engage notches in the said adjoining levers, and pattern surface mechanism for controlling said connecting devices.

JOHN ERNEST GROSVENOR. VILLIAM THOMAS PICKING 

